I  an  UAL 


MISSIONARIES  AND  SUPERINTENDENTS 


OF  MISSIONS 

UNDER  THE  CARE  OF  THE 


METHODIST  EPISCOPAL  CHUKCH, 


Published  by  Order  of  the  Board. 


PHILADELPHIA: 

T.  K.  AND  P.  G.  COLLINS,  PKINTERS, 

1  LODGE  ALLEY. 


1852. 


0 


In  the  preparation  of  this  Manual,  the  Secretary  acknow¬ 
ledges  himself  indebted,  for  several  valuable  provisions  and 
instructions,  to  the  Manuals  of  the  American  Board  of  Com¬ 
missioners  for  Foreign  Missions,  and  of  the  Presbyterian 
Board,  and  to  the  Instructions  given  to  the  Missionaries  of 
the  Wesleyan  Missionary  Society.  Each  missionary  and 
superintendent  of  missions  will  keep  this  Manual  by  him, 
and  occasionally  peruse  it,  that  he  may  not  write  for  infor¬ 
mation  expressly  contained  herein. 

Index,  see  page  of  Cover. 


MANUAL 


FOR 

\ 


MISSIONARIES  AND  SUPERINTENDENTS 

OF  MISSIONS 


UNDER  THE  CARE  OF  THE 


METHODIST  EPISCOPAL  CHUPCH. 


Published  by  Order  of  the  Board. 


PHILADELPHIA: 

T.  K.  AND  P.  G.  COLLINS,  PRINTERS, 

1  LODGE  ALLEY. 

1852. 


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DREW  THEOLOrilGAl 
SEMINARY  LiBRAHY. 


rot. 


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MISSIONARY  MANUAL. 


OBJECTS. 

The  objects  of  the  Missionary  Society  of  the'  Methodist 
Episcopal  Church  are,  to  enable  the  several  Annual  Con¬ 
ferences  more  effectually  to  extend  their  missionary  labors 
throughout  the  United  States  and  elsewhere;  and  also  to 
assist  in  the  support  and  promotion  of  missionary  schools  and 
missions  in  our  own  and  in  foreign  countries.’^ 

VARIOUS  MISSIONARY  LABORERS. 

1.  In  the  Domestic  Missions,  under  the  care  of  the  several 
conferences,  ministers  and  preachers  of  the  Gospel  are  mainly 
employed;  and  these,  in  conjunction  with  the  official  members 
of  the  church  within  their  missions  respectively,  employ,  as 
assistants,  Sunday-school  teachers,  and  occasionally  day- 
school  teachers,  as  the  interests  of  the  mission  require  and 
its  ability  will  permit. 

2.  In  the  Foreign  Missions  are  employed  :  1st,  ordained 
ministers  of  the  Gospel ;  2d,  occasionally  unordained  preach¬ 
ers  of  the  Gospel;  3,  colporteurs;  4th,  physicians;  6th, 
school  teachers;  6th,  catechists;  7th,  occasionally  printers, 
farmers,  and  mechanics;  8th,  unmarried  female  teachers, 
but  these  only  where  they  can  find  a  home  in  the  family  of 
an  intimate  and  reliable  friend  or  relative  within  the  mission. 
The  ordained  ministers  are  considered  missionaries  proper, 
and  all  others  assistants  in  the  great  work,  having  more  or 
less  intimate  connection  with  the  mission.  The  wives  of 
missionaries  in  Foreign  Missions  are  justly  considered  as 
assistant  missionaries. 


4 


MISSIONARY  MANUAL. 


Presiding  elders,  also,  are  superintendents  of  tlie  Domestic 
Missions  within  their  bounds  severally,  and  should  report 
accordingly. 


QUALIFICATIONS  OF  MISSIONARIES. 

1.  Some  qualifications  are  necessary  to  every  missionary, 
and  every  assistant  missionary,  such  as  decided,  enlightened, 
and  uniform  <piety ;  in  connection  with  right  views  of  Christ¬ 
ian  doctrines  and  Christian  duties,  as  acknowledged  and 
taught  in  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church ;  and  it  is  neces¬ 
sary  that  the  spirit  and  practice  of  evangelical  Christianity 
be  constantly  exhibited  in  the  public  and  private  conduct  of 
each  member  of  the  mission. 

2.  Other  qualifications  are  specially  necessary  to  particular 
members  of  the  mission. 

(1.)  The  ordained  minister  and  the  preacher  of  the  Gos¬ 
pel  should  each  undertake  his  work  as  a  special  personal 
duty  laid  on  him  hy  Jesus  Christ,  the  Head  of  the  Church. 
He  must  feel  that  the  Saviour  requires  him  to  go  to  distant 
lands  or  fields  of  labor,  to  preach  the  Gospel  to  those  who 
sit  in  darkness  and  in  the  region  and  shadow  of  death ;  and 
he  should  look  to  the  church,  through  her  missionary  organi¬ 
zation,  not  so  much  to  lay  this  duty  on  him  as  to  assist  and 
sustain  him  in  accomplishing  his  great  work.  This  is  the 
true  spirit  of  the  missionary  proper,  and  without  it  he  cannot 
well  bear  up  under  the  dangers,  toils,  and  discouragements 
incident  to  the  true  missionary  work. 

(2.)  The  missionary  should  be  a  man  of  good  common 
sense,  of  sound  judgment,  of  quick  discernment,  and  good 
knowledge  of  human  nature ;  he  should  be  of  an  amiable 
disposition,  frank,  generous,  forbearing,  and  constantly  in¬ 
clined  to  accommodate  others,  and  to  render  them  happy 
and  useful ;  he  should  be  steady,  firm,  patient,  persevering, 
cheerful;  he  should  have  the  habit  of  promptly  and  tho¬ 
roughly  accomplishing  whatever  he  undertakes. 

(3.)  His  health  should  be  good,  and  his  constitution  and 
habits  such  as  give  him  promise  of  a  fair  share  of  health  in 
the  field  of  labor  upon  which  he  is  about  to  enter.  He 


MISSIONARY  MANUAL. 


should  be  at  least  of  medium  stature ;  and  it  is  desirable 
that  he  should  be^  not  of  forbidding,  but  rather  of  good  ap¬ 
pearance  and  pleasing  manners. 

(4.)  He  should  be  of  good  intellectual  abilities ;  and  have 
a  well-ordered  active  mind,  and  furnished,  to  a  fair  extent, 
with  useful  knowledge,  general  and  religious;  and  he  should 
have  the  desire  and  the  habit  of  continual  improvement  in 
knowledge  and  in  piety.  The  greatness,  sacredness,  and 
value  of  his  work  will  give  scope  for  all  these  and  still  more 
qualifications.  The  world  is  to  be  enlightened  and  re¬ 
deemed. 

(5.)  The  missionary  physician  should  have  a  competent 
medical  education,  according  to  the  standard  of  this  country; 
and  he  should  go  on  his  mission  with  the  express  and  firm 
intention  to  make  the  practice  of  his  profession  directly  sub¬ 
servient  to  the  furtherance  of  the  Grospel.  To  his  medical 
knowledge  he  should  add  a  competent  religious  and  theolo¬ 
gical  knowledge;  that  with  the  advantages  of  his  medical 
skill  he  may  the  more  readily  impart  the  knowledge  of  Jesus 
Christ  our  Lord  to  those  with  whom  he  may  have  inter¬ 
course.  In  no  case,  without  permission  of  the  Board,  may 
he  receive  compensation  for  medical  services.  It  would  be 
well  if  the  physician  were  a  minister  of  the  Gospel. 

(6.)  Teachers  should  be  well  qualified  for  the  work  com¬ 
mitted  to  them;  and  they  should  enter  upon  it,  and  pursue 
it  from  a  sense  of  duty  to  God ;  a  duty  which  they  may  not 
perform  listlessly,  but  as  for  God,  and  in  his  sight.  Theirs 
is  a  very  important  part  of  the  missionary  work. 

(7.)  and /armers  should  be  masters  of  the  busi¬ 

ness  of  their  respective  departments,  and  resolved  to  make 
their  labors  subservient  to  the  great  designs  of  the  mission. 
These  are  wanted  in  but  few  missions ;  but  when  they  are 
wanted,  they  should  be  godly  men,  recommending  the  mis¬ 
sion  by  their  private  and  public  conduct. 

(8.)  Debts.  Every  missionary  must  be  out  of  debt,  accord¬ 
ing  to  the  requisition  and  administration  of  our  discipline. 
But  especially  does  the  Board  of  Managers  require  that  every 
missionary  on  a  foreign  station  shall  keep  out  of  debt.  He 
shall  in  no  case  engage  in  trade  or  business.  He  must  re- 

1-^ 


6 


MISSIONARY  MANUAL. 


member  the  declaration  of  St.  Paul :  ^^No  man  that  warreth 
entangleth  himself  with  the  affairs  of  this  life,  that  he  may 
please  him  who  hath  chosen  him  to  be  a  soldier all  his 
time  and  talents  must  be  given  to  his  work  in  the  mission ; 
and  that  he  may  the  more  readily  do  this,  the  Board  will 
have  affectionate  consideration  of  all  his  proper  wants,  and 
will  faithfully  endeavor  to  satisfy  them.  And  there  is  not 
much  doubt  but  that  the  church  will  enable  the  Board  to  do 
this  so  long  as  the  missionary  shall  regulate  his  expenses  by 
such  a  due  regard  to  economy  as  may  be  found  to  consist  with 
his  health  and  comfort,  and  with  the  real  demands  of  the 
work  of  God. 

BY  WHOM  APPOINTED. 

1.  All  ministers  or  preachers  of  the  Gospel  in  the  Do¬ 
mestic  Missions  are  appointed  annually  by  the  bishop  presid¬ 
ing  in  the  conference,  within  whose  bounds  their  work  lies ; 
and  each  presiding  elder  is  superintendent  of  the  missions  in 
his  district. 

2.  Every  minister  or  preacher  of  the  Gospel,  sent  to  a 
Foreign  Mission,  is  appointed  by  the  bishop  having,  for  the 
time  being,  the  superintendence  of  the  Foreign  Missions. 
When  he  arrives  in  his  mission  he  is  subject  to  the  special 
superintendent  of  his  mission,  under  the  instructions  contained 
in  his  commission,  or  given  by  the  Board;  and,  if  no  special 
instructions  be  contained  in  the  commission  or  given  by  the 
Board,  then  he  is  subject  to  the  special  superintendent  of  the 
mission  according  to  the  Discipline,  as  the  ministers  and 
preachers  in  a  district,  within  an  annual  conference,  are  sub¬ 
ject  to  the  presiding  elder. 

3.  All  other  appointments  in  the  Foreign  Missions  are 
made  by  the  Board, -or  with  their  express  consent  and  sanc¬ 
tion,  under  previous  orders  of  the  General  Missionary  Com¬ 
mittee  ;  application  should  be  made  to  the  Board  through 
the  corresponding  secretary,  accompanied  by  satisfactory  tes¬ 
timonials. 

4.  Application  for  an  appointment  to  go  to  a  Foreign  Mis¬ 
sion  to  preach  the  Gospel  as  a  missionary,  should  be  made 
directly  to  the  bishop  having,  at  the  time,  the  superintend- 


MISSIONARY  MANUAL. 


7 


ence  of  our  Foreign  Missions.  If  tlie  candidate  have  special 
reasons,  he  may  apply  to  the  bishop  through  the  correspond¬ 
ing  secretary. 

5.  It  is  understood,  unless  expressly  stated  to  the  con¬ 
trary,  that  the  missionary,  going  to  a  Foreign  Mission,  makes 
his  work  the  work  of  his  life;  and  he  may  not  relinquish  it, 
or  return  home,  without  express  and  proper  authority  given 
him  so  to  do.  In  case  of  a  providential  personal  emergency,  a 
missionary,  or  superintendent  of  the  mission,  may  return  or 
be  absent  from  his  mission  with  the  consent  and  sanction  of 
the  mission,  provided  the  exigency  be  so  pressing,  in  the 
judgment  of  the  mission,  that  there  is  not  time  to  obtain  the 
proper  authority  from  the  bishop  or  the  Board,  and  in  such 
cases  only. 


TESTIMONIALS. 

In  case  of  application,  as  a  missionary  to  preach  the  Grospel 
in  a  Foreign  Mission,  testimonials  are  expected  to  be  fur¬ 
nished  to  the  bishop  having  the  authority  to  appoint,  on  the 
following  particulars : — 

1.  Character  of  the  applicant’s  piety. 

2.  Manner  and  effectiveness  of  his  preaching. 

3.  His  natural  talents  and  temper,  and  the  probability  of 
his  working  happily  with  others. 

4.  His  judgment,  discretion,  and  common  sense. 

5.  The  extent  and  qualities  of  his  education. 

6.  His  habits  of  improving  time,  and  of  seizing  opportu¬ 
nities  of  usefulness. 

7.  The  habits  of  economy,  of  himself  and  his  family. 

8.  His  facility  for  acquiring  influence  over  others. 

9.  His  aptness  in  acquiring  languages. 

10.  His  personal  appearance,  manners,  and  address. 

11.  His  character,  habits,  health,  and  constitution  in  view 
of  his  particular  field  of  labor. 

These  testimonials  should  be  furnished  by  the  presiding 
elder  of  the  applicant,  and  by  those  brethren  who  have  la¬ 
bored  with  him  in  the  conference  work,  and  by  any  pious 
and  judicious  brethren  who  know  him  well.  And  if  he  be 


8 


MISSIONARY  MANUAL. 


a  graduate  of  any  of  our  colleges,  or  have  been  a  student  in 
any  of  our  ^academies,  the  testimonials  of  his  instructors 
should  be  produced. 

APPROPRIATIONS  FOR  SUPPORT. 

In  Domestic  Missions  the  appropriations  are  fixed  by  the 
authorities  in  each  mission,  and  paid  according  to  the  regu¬ 
lations  of  the  Discipline.  An  appropriation,  of  a  greater  or 
less  amount,  is  usually  made  to  each  mission  towards  paying 
the  allowance,  by  the  mission  committee  of  the  conference 
within  whose  bounds  the  mission  lies,  out  of  moneys  placed 
at  the  disposal  of  the  conference  by  the  joint  annual  meeting 
of  the  Greneral  Missionary  Committee  and  Board  of  Managers. 
The  Board  is  no  further  responsible  for  the  support  of  mis¬ 
sionaries  employed  in  our  Domestic  Missions. 

In  Foreign  Missions  the  quarterage,  according  to  discipline, 
is  payable  by  the  Board  from  the  date  of  the  missionary’s 
commission,  unless  a  specific  date  is  mentioned  in  the  com¬ 
mission  ;  the  appropriation  commences  upon  his  arriving  on 
the  field  of  labor,  when  his  quarterage  ceases,  being  merged 
in  the  aggregate  appropriation.  It  is  the  policy  of  the  Board 
to  give  a  specific  and  fixed  appropriation ;  and  to  allow  a 
specific  and  fixed  sum  for  rent  of  dwelling,  varying  according 
to  the  size  of  the  family,  and  the  circumstances  under  which 
the  missionary  labors.  A  reasonable  portion  of  this  appro¬ 
priation  for  the  year  may  be  paid  in  advance,  and  the  re¬ 
mainder  for  the  first  year,  and  the  appropriation  for  each 
succeeding  year  shall  be  drawn  for  by  the  superintendent  of 
the  mission,  quarterly^  unless  special  instructions  are  given 
to  the  mission  that  the  salaries  will  be  paid  in  some  other 
way. 

In  any  mission  where  the  Board  find  themselves  unpre¬ 
pared  to  assign  specific  appropriations,  or  to  make  specific 
arrangements  in  the  case,  the  actual  expenses  of  the  mission¬ 
ary  or  missionaries  will  be  paid  quarterly,  of  which  a  parti¬ 
cular  quarterly  account  must  be  rendered  to  the  Treasurer 
of  the  Board,  at  New  York,  by  the  superintendent  of  the 
mission,  if  there  be  one,  and  if  not  by  the  missionary  him¬ 
self. 


MISSIONARY  MANUAL. 


9 


SUPERANNUATED  MISSIONARIES,  THEIR  WIDOWS  AND 

ORPHANS. 

The  Board,  by  the  Constitution  (Art.  5),  has  authority 
^^to  provide  for  the  support  of  superannuated  missionaries, 
widows,  and  orphans  of  missionaries,  who  may  not  he  pro¬ 
vided  for  by  their  annual  conferences  respectively,  it  being 
understood  that  they  shall  not  receive  more  than  is  allowed 
by  the  Discipline  to  other  superannuated  ministers,  their 
widows  and  orphans.^^ 


EXPENSES. 

The  Board  will  not  be  responsible  for  any  expenses  incur¬ 
red  before  the  missionary  is  acting,  in  view  of  his  mission, 
under  the  direction  of  the  bishop  superintendent  of  Foreign 
Missions,  or  of  the  Board ;  and  each  missionary  is  considered 
under  such  direction  from  the  date  of  his  commission,  or  from 
a  specific  date  mentioned  in  the  commission,  if  such  specific 
date  be  mentioned. 

The  expenses  for  which  the  Board  will  be  responsible  are : 
the  travelling  and  incidental  expenses  of  the  missionary  and 
his  family,  if  he  have  one  (which  include  the  boarding  or 
subsistence  of  his  family),  arising  expressly  in  pursuance  of 
his  commission ;  and  also  the  freight  of  his  goods,  and  any 
other  expenses  expressly  authorized  by  the  Board  or  the 
bishop  appointing.  The  extra  travelling  and  incidental  ex¬ 
penses,  arising  in  his  field  of  labor  in  pursuance  of  his  work, 
must  be  reported  to  the  Board  quarterly  for  their  decision. 

MARRIAGE. 

As  a  general  rule,  every  missionary  in  a  foreign  mission 
should  be  a  married  man;  and  his  wife  should  be  of  one 
heart  and  one  mind  with  him.  It  is  almost  indispensable 
that  she  should  have  good  health;  and  it  is  very  desirable 
that  she  be  intelligent,  and  of  pleasing  manners  and  conver¬ 
sation,  and  having  practical  knowledge  of  domestic  affairs. 
The  wife  ought  to  be  truly  an  assistant  missionary. 


10 


MISSIONARY  MANUAL. 


Pious  young  men  in  colleges,  and  those  who  have  just  en¬ 
tered  upon  the  work  of  the  ministry,  should  carefully  ponder 
the  question,  whether  they  be  not  called  to  the  missionary 
work;  and  if,  in  their  judgment  and  conscience,  they  be,  and 
the  way  is  opened  to  them,  they  ought  not  to  be  in  haste  to 
contract  marriage,  that  they  may  do  it  the  more  judiciously 
and  with  advice,  as  their  departure  for  their  distant  field 
draws  nigh. 


OUTFIT. 

The  outfit  of  a  missionary  includes  such  clothing,  bedding 
(when  the  ship  does  not  furnish  it),  and  other  articles  neces¬ 
sary  for  comfort  during  the  voyage  or  journey,  and  imme¬ 
diately  on  arriving  at  the  field  of  labor,  as  would  not  be  re¬ 
quired  were  the  missionary  and  his  family  to  remain  in  the 
work  at  home ;  also  the  books  necessary  in  his  special  field 
of  labor.  The  amount  will  vary  according  to  the  circum¬ 
stances  of  the  appointment,  the  length  and  nature  of  the 
voyage  or  journey,  and  the  condition  of  things  at  the  time 
in  the  field  of  labor.  The  outfit  in  each  particular  case  will, 
therefore,  be  determined  by  the  Board,  and  is  payable  to  the 
missionary  at  his  pleasure,  after  notice  given  him  of  the 
same.  But  our  experience  leads  us  to  advise  that  it  should 
not  all  be  expended  before  setting  out  for  the  mission  :  re¬ 
serve  a  little  for  exigency  there. 

Each  missionary  about  to  depart  to  the  foreign  missionary 
work,  upon  application  at  the  office  in  New  York,  199  Mul¬ 
berry  Street,  by  letter  or  in  person,  shall  receive  such  infor¬ 
mation  as  the  office  can  give,  touching  the  articles  requisite 
in  his  particular  case. 


FURNITURE. 

As  a  general  rule,  not  much  furniture  should  be  sent  out 
to  distant  missions;  only  such  as  cannot  be  conveniently  ob¬ 
tained  in  the  country  whither  the  missionary  goes.  The 
transportation  of  furniture  is  a  heavy  item  in  the  expendi¬ 
ture  of  the  Board. 

Any  furniture  in  any  foreign  mission,  purchased  with 
money  appropriated  by  the  board  for  the  same,  is  the  pro- 


MISSIONARY  MANUAL, 


11 


perty  of  tlie  Board,  and  must  be  carefully  preserved,  and  an 
inventory  thereof  made  and  kept  in  the  records  of  the  mis¬ 
sion  ;  and  a  copy  of  the  same  sent  to  the  office  of  the  Board 
in  New  York. 

BOXES  OR  CASKS. 

Strong  and  well-made  boxes  of  medium  size,  or  in  case  of 
long  and  damp  voyages,  strong  water-tight  casks,  are  neces¬ 
sary  for  the  safe  conveyance  of  goods.  If  they  are  to  be 
carried  by  horses  or  mules  any  considerable  distance,  boxes 
are  preferable,  and  should  be  about  three  feet  long,  eighteen 
inches  deep,  fourteen  inches  wide,  and  gross  weight,  not  ex¬ 
ceeding  one  hundred  and  fifty  pounds.  It  would  be  well, 
indeed,  almost  necessary,  to  mark  each  box  or  cask  with  a 
letter  or  number,  and  make  and  keep  a  memorandum  of  the 
contents  of  each. 

Each  box,  cask,  or  package  should  be  plainly  and  strongly 
marked  with  the  name  of  the  owner  and  place  of  destination ; 
and  forwarded  to  the  care  of  Mission  Booms,  199  Mulberry 
St,,  N.  Y.  (unless  otherwise  expressly  advised);  and  should 
reach  New  York  a  week  or  ten  days  before  the  sailing  of  the 
vessel  in  which  the  shipment  is  to  be  made. 

PASSPORT. 

A  passport,  obtained  from  the  Secretary  of  State  at  Wash¬ 
ington,  is  indispensable  to  missionaries  going  to  foreign 
countries.  The  following  notice  relative  to  the  giving  of 
passports  to  citizens  of  the  United  States  designing  to  visit 
foreign  countries,  was  issued  from  the  Department  of  State 
at  Washington,  April  4,  1835;  viz.: — 

“As  citizens  of  the  United  States,  going  to  foreign  countries, 
may  he  subjected  to  inconvenience  for  the  want  of  sufficient  evidence 
of  their  national  character,  the  Secretary  of  State  deems  it  proper 
to  give  notice,  that  Passports  will  be  granted  by  him,  gratis,  to  such 
citizens,  on  his  being  satisfied  that  they  are  entitled  to  receive 
them, 

“  To  prevent  delay  in  obtaining  a  passport,  the  application  should 
be  accompanied  by  such  evidence  as  may  show  the  applicant  to  be 
a  citizen  of  the  United  States,  where  that  fact  is  not  already  known 


12 


MISSIONARY  MANUAL. 


to  the  Department  of  State,  and  with  a  description  of  his  person, 
embracing  the  following  particulars,  viz. : — 

‘‘ Age,  —  years;  stature,  —  feet,  —  inches;  forehead,  — ;  eyes, 
— ;  nose,  — ;  mouth,  — ;  chin,  — ;  hair, — ;  complexion, — ; 
face,  — . 

“Where  the  applicant  is  to  be  accompanied  by  his  wife,  children, 
or  servants,  or  females  under  his  protection,  it  will  be  sufficient  to 
state  the  names  and  ages  of  such  persons,  and  their  relationship  to 
the  applicant ;  as  one  passport  may  serve  for  the  whole. 

“  Certificates  of  citizenship,  or  passports,  granted  by  the  different 
States  and  municipal  authorities  in  the  United  States,  are  not  recog¬ 
nized  by  the  officers  of  foreign  governments ;  and,  for  the  want  of 
necessary  official  information  as  to  those  authorities,  the  ministers 
and  consuls  of  the  United  States  in  foreign  countries  cannot  authen¬ 
ticate  such  documents.” 

The  description  must  he  carefully  filled  up,  and  the  appli¬ 
cation  attested  by  a  notary  public.  If  no  notary  be  at  hand, 
take  advice  and  give  the  best  legal  attestation  you  can  ob¬ 
tain,  and  send  the  application  so  attested  directly  to  the  Se¬ 
cretary  of  State  at  Washington,  explaining  to  him  that  you 
have  obtained  the  best  attestation  in  your  power;  and  naming 
the  place  to  which  he  will  be  pleased  to  send  it;  and  to 
whose  care.  This  you  should  do  immediately  upon  receiv¬ 
ing  your  appointment.  No  one  can  do  it  for  you,  unless 
you  be  present  to  be  described  as  required. 

YOUR  ADDRESS. 

It  is  absolutely  necessary  that  each  superintendent  of 
missions,  and  each  missionary  in  the  Foreign  Missions,  and 
in  the  Indian  Missions  should  keep  the  Corresponding  Secre¬ 
tary  informed  of  his  post-ojB&ce  address.  Grive  the  name  of 
the  post-office,  the  County  and  State,  or  Territory.  This 
applies  also  to  presiding  elders  having  missions  within  their 
districts. 


DEPARTURE  FOR  THE  FIELD. 

In  almost  every  case  the  board  engages  the  passage  of  the 
missionary  and  his  family;  and  it  is  our  policy  to  make  the 
voyage  or  journey  as  safe  and  comfortable  as  possible.  If 
the  departure  is  from  New  York,  the  missionary  should  be 


MISSIONARY  MANUAL. 


13 


in  the  city  about  one  week  before  the  day  of  departure,  not 
longer,  except  for  special  reasons;  he  should  give  notice  of 
the  day  he  and  his  family  may  be  expected,  that  suitable 
lodgings  may  be  provided.  He  should  keep  us  informed 
where  letters  will  reach  him  from  time  to  time. 

Upon  his  arrival  he  will  be  assisted ^  to  the  best  of  our 
ability,  in  making  his  preparations,  and  in  embarking;  but 
he  must  be  principal  in  these  matters,  and  give  himself  to 
them.  He  must  remember  that  we  are  assisting  him  to  ac¬ 
complish  the  great  work  God  hath  required  him  to  do. 

In  his  preparations  to  embark,  or  to  depart,  he  should 
separate  those  articles  which  he  will  need  on  his  voyage  or 
journey,  from  those  which  he  will  not  need  until  he  reaches 
his  field  of  labor ;  and  he  should  put  them  in  strong  and  fair 
sized  trunks,  and  in  satchels,  that  they  may  be  easily  acces¬ 
sible.  Generally,  one  such  trunk  will  contain  what  is  needed 
for  one  adult  person.  But  judgment  should  be  exercised 
under  the  conditions  of  the  case;  and  care  should  be  taken 
not  to  have  an  excess  of  baggage  at  hand. 

THE  VOYAGE. 

It  commonly  happens  that  two  or  more  missionaries  and 
mission  families  sail  in  the  same  ship ;  they  are,  probably, 
brought  together  for  the  first  time.  It  is  very  important, 
both  for  their  own  comfort  and  for  the  honor  and  influence 
of  the  holy  cause  of  missions,  that  they  should  really  feel  and 
act  as  brethren  in  Christ,  as  one  family.  Let  them  earnestly 
watch  and  pray  that  God  may  enable  them  to  cultivate  with 
each  other  a  spirit  of  love  and  charity,  which  is  the  bond  of 
perfectness. 

When  their  friends  have  left  the  vessel,  they  should  com¬ 
mence  at  once  to  adjust  their  berths,  and  arrange  their  bag¬ 
gage.  If  practieable,  this  should  be  done  before  the  vessel 
sails.  It  will  be  found  necessary  to  attend  to  many  small 
matters,  which,  if  omitted  at  first,  may  occasion  much  incon¬ 
venience,  if  sea-sickness  finds  them  unprepared. 

The  arrangement  of  the  religious  exercises  on  board  the 
vessel  is  sometimes  a  subject  of  delicacy.  Whenever  it  is 
2 


14 


MISSIONARY  MANUAL, 


practicable  and  expedient^,  one  of  tbe  officers  of  tbe  Board 
will  converse  with  the  captain  on  the  subject  before  the  sail¬ 
ing  of  the  vessel.  Where  this  cannot  be  done^  one  of  the 
missionary  company,  appointed  by  the  others  for  that  pur¬ 
pose,  should  have  an  interview  with  him,  at  a  suitable  time, 
and  when  he  is  alone.  Whatever  has  been  previously  agreed 
upon  should  be  requested  as  a  favor,  not  demanded  as  a 
right. 

The  intercourse  with  the  sailors  should  be  with  the  appro¬ 
bation  O'f  the  captain,  and  in  strict  accordance  with  the  rules 
of  the  ship.  It  will  be  best  to  postpone  all  efforts  for  their 
benefit  till  the  ship  is  fairly  at  sea. 

The  windward  side  of  the  quarter-deck  is  properly  the  cap- 
taints  place,  and  should  be  occupied  by  no  one  when  he  is  on 
deck.  He  is  entitled  to  respect  as  the  commander  of  the 
ship,  and  as  the  master  of  the  family.  In  conversation  at 
the  table,  subjects  unpleasant  to  him,  or  in  which  for  want 
of  knowledge  he  cannot  take  a  part,  should  be  avoided. 

When  the  weather  is  rough,  passengers  for  the  most  part 
should  remain  below;  and  at  all  times  they  should  be  careful 
not  to  be  in  the  way  of  the  officers  or  sailors,  when  engaged 
in  their  respective  duties. 

All  complaints  of  the  food  at  table,  of  the  accommodations, 
or  of  the  ship  itself,  are  to  be  most  carefully  guarded  against. 

When  the  voyage  is  completed,  a  plain  statement  of  the 
principal  occurrences  on  board  should  be  communicated  to 
the  Corresponding  Secretary.  If  disappointment  has  been 
experienced  in  any  part  of  the  treatment  received,  it  is  not 
generally  expedient  to  send  complaints  to  relatives  and 
friends.  Such  letters  sometimes  get  into  the  newspapers, 
and  the  Christian  community  are  surprised  to  see  so  much 
account  made  respecting  matters,  some  of  them  small,  and  all 
of  them  of  short  eontinuance. 

CONDUCT  IN  YOUR  MISSION. 

I.  If  missionaries  of  sister  churches  be  in  your  vicinity, 
manifest  to  them,  in  all  suitable  ways,  a  disposition  to  culti¬ 
vate  fraternal  feelings  and  relations. 


MISSIONARY  MANUAL. 


15 


2.  Be  careful  neither  to  do  or  say  anything  that  may  bring 
you  into  collision  with  the  lawful  government,  within  whose 
jurisdiction  your  mission  lies.  Take  no  part  in  the  merely 
civil  disputes  or  local  politics  of  the  country,  either  verbally 
or  by  correspondence  with  any  person  at  home.  You  are 
not  to  become  a  party  in  any  civil  quarrel,  but  are  to  please 
all  men  for  their  good  to  edification  intent  upon  the  solemn 
work  of  your  office. 

3.  You  are  to  observe  cheerfully  the  rules  for  the  govern¬ 
ment  and  administration  of  your  mission,  as  contained  in 
the  Discipline,  the  Constitution  of  the  Missionary  Society  of 
the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  and  in  the  instructions 
given  to  you  or  the  superintendent  of  your  mission  by  the 
bishop  having  charge  of  Foreign  Missions,  and  by  the  Board 
through  the  Corresponding  Secretary 

4.  The  Board  and  the  bishop  superintending  look  to  the 
superintendent  of  each  mission  for  its  just  and  faithful  ad¬ 
ministration  in  all  respects.  The  superintendent  is  the 
responsible  head  of  the  mission ;  the  acts  of  the  mission,  as 
a  mission,  and  the  administration  of  its  affairs,  must  have 
the  sanction  of  the  superintendent. 

It  is  not  intended  by  this,  that  the  other  members  of  the 
mission  shall  not  have  a  voice  in  its  affairs,  both  general  and 
particular,  and  more  especially  in  any  matter  concerning 
themselves  severally,  they  are  to  have  a  voice  j  they  are  to 
be  consulted.  They  may  propose  such  measures  as  they 
judge  good  for  the  mission;  but  then  to  give  them  effect  the 
superintendent  must  concur ;  because  the  superintendent  is 
the  person  responsible  to  the  Board  and  to  the  bishop  hav¬ 
ing  the  superintendence  of  our  Foreign  Missions.  His 
authority  and  relation  in  the  mission  are  the  same  as  those 
of  a  presiding  elder  in  the  district,  within  the  particular  in¬ 
structions  given  him  by  the  superintending  bishop,  and  by 
the  Board  through  the  Corresponding  Secretary. 

All  official  communications  to  the  superintendent,  involv¬ 
ing  directly  or  indirectly  the  interest  or  action  of  any  other 
members  of  the  mission,  should  be  frankly  communicated  to 
him.  This  course  is  necessary  for  preserving  harmony  and 
mutual  confidence  among  the  members  of  the  mission. 


16 


MISSIONARY  MANUAL. 


Eacla  branch  of  the  mission  which  is  in  charge  of  any  par¬ 
ticular  member  of  the  mission,  should  be  carefully  repre¬ 
sented  to  the  superintendent  in  his  conferences  or  conver¬ 
sations  with  the  missionaries;  and  the  opinion  and  advice 
of  the  missionary  in  charge  of  any  particular  part  of  the 
work  should  have  due  weight  in  reference  to  that  part  of  the 
work.  Thus  the  particular  parts  of  the  mission  will  be 
under  the  direct  administration  of  the  missionaries  in  charge 
severally,  and  yet  under  the  general  supervision  of  the 
superintendent,  who  is  the  responsible  head  of  the  mission. 

If  practicable,  there  should  be  a  monthly,  or  at  least  a 
quarterly  meeting  of  the  mission,  for  the  purpose  of  devising 
the  best  plans  for  prosecuting  the  work,  for  auditing  the  ac¬ 
counts  of  the  mission,  and  for  enabling  the  superintendent 
to  make  out  an  accurate  quarterly  report.  This  applies 
particularly  to  Foreign  Missions  not  yet  organized  into  an¬ 
nual  conferences.  Where  they  are  so  organized,  then  each 
presiding  elder  is  required  to  make  a  quarterly  report  of  the 
work  under  his  superintendence.  And  if  he  cannot  visit 
each  part  of  his  mission  personally,  the  missionary  must  re¬ 
port  to  him  quarterly  in  writing,  by  mail. 

YOUR  CORRESPONDENCE. 

1.  Your  correspondence  as  a  missionary  is  due  to  the 
Board  and  bishop  superintending. 

2.  Private  correspondence  to  friends,  or  correspondence 
to  other  parties,  has  frequently  been  published  to  the  detri¬ 
ment  of  the  missionary  cause  at  home  and  abroad.  You 
should  be  exceedingly  careful  with  respect  to  the  facts  you 
communicate  to  us  for  publication,  and  to  the  manner  of 
communicating  them.  Never  write  anything,  or  in  any 
manner,  which  you  would  not  be  willing  to  see  returned  and 
published  over  your  own  name,  where  you  are  at  work. 

3.  Form  of  your  correspondence.  1.  Let  everything  be 
written  in  a  plain  bold  hand,  and  with  margin  of  half  an 
inch  on  each  side  of  the  page,  and  not  crowded.  It  is  ex¬ 
ceedingly  vexatious  to  receive  from  a  missionary  a  letter 
that  can  scarcely  be  read  at  all;  frequently  the  Board  refuses 


MISSIONARY  MANUAL. 


17 


to  hear  it  read,  because  it  is  so  dijfficult  to  read.  2.  Be 
careful  to  write  by  itself  on  one  piece  of  paper  what  you  are 
willing  should  be  published;  on  another,  what  you  wish  to 
be  submitted  to  the  Board ;  on  another,  what  is  intended  for 
the  secretary  only;  and  on  another,  what  for  the  treasurer; 
or,  if  written  on  one  sheet,  let  the  matter  be  so  written  that 
each  part  can  be  separated  from  the  other.  If  on  separate 
pieces  of  paper,  all  should  be  put  in  one  envelope,  and  ad¬ 
dressed  to  the  Corresponding  Secretary.  Proper  names 
should  be  written  very  plainly.  3.  All  remittances  of  money, 
all  drafts  or  reports  of  expenditures  in  pursuance  of  the 
action  of  the  Board  or  bishop  superintending,  or  arising  out 
of  the  legitimate  action  of  the  mission,  must  be  addressed  to 
the  treasurer. 


SUBJECTS  FOR  CORRESPONDENCE. 

These  are  intimated  in  the  general  and  special  instructions 
found  on  subsequent  pages;  but,  for  convenience  of  reference, 
they  are  enumerated  here,  especially  with  reference  to  Foreign 
Missions  and  Missions  among  the  Indians. 

1.  The  peculiar  customs  of  the  people  among  whom  you 
labor. 

2.  Their  language,  habits,  laws,  and  government. 

3.  Their  religious  views  and  worship. 

4.  The  degree  and  character  of  their  civilization. 

5.  Their  views  and  feelings  with  respect  to  Christianity, 
and  its  progress  among  them,  if  it  have  made  any. 

6.  Accounts  of  particular  conversions  and  experiences. 

With  respect  to  the  subjects  enumerated  in  numbers  five 

and  six  particularly,  you  should  not  allow  yourselves,  under 
the  influence  of  religious  hope  or  joy,  to  give  any  high  co¬ 
loring  of  facts,  but  just  and  sober  views  of  things  as,  upon 
careful  observation  and  mature  reflection,  you  judge  them 
to  be. 

Other  things  may  be  included  in  your  correspondence 
which,  in  your  judgment,  tend  to  illustrate  and  advance  the 
interests  of  missions. 


2* 


18 


MISSIONARY  MANUAL. 


YOUR  JOURNAL. 

It  is  positively  required  of  every  missionary  in  the  foreign 
work,  to  keep  a  regular  journal,  and  to  send  to  the  corre¬ 
sponding  secretary  monthly,  or  at  least  quarterly,  such  ex¬ 
tracts  as  may  give  a  fair  account  of  his  particular  labors, 
success,  and  prospects.  This  is  necessary  for  the  informa¬ 
tion  of  the  Board;  and  will  afford  information  and  satisfac¬ 
tion  to  the  church,  should  we  deem  it  suitable  to  be  published 
in  whole  or  in  part. 

Such  abstracts  may  be  sent  without  the  attention  or  in¬ 
spection  of  the  special  superintendent  of  the  mission. 

But  the  official  quarterly  report  of  each  missionary  should 
be  made  to  his  superintendent,  if  he  have  one;  that  it  may 
be  by  the  superintendent  combined  with  the  other  quarterly 
reports  from  other  parts  of  the  mission,  and  forwarded  to  the 
Corresponding  Secretary.  So  also  should  the  annual  report 
be  made  through  the  superintendent. 

OFFICIAL  COMMUNICATIONS. 

All  propositions  for  further  expenditures  in  the  emplo}’-- 
ment  of  additional  missionaries  or  assistants,  or  for  publica¬ 
tions,  rents,  salaries,  &c.,  should  be  made  Iby  the  superin¬ 
tendent  through  the  Corresponding  Secretary  to  the  Board. 
In  spiritual  matters  simply,  such  as  the  plan  of  the  work, 
expansion  or  contraction  of  the  same,  or  advice  in  matters  of 
discipline,  or  application  to  send  out  more  missionaries  to 
preach  the  Gospel,  or  for  permission  to  leave  the  work,  the 
superintendent  should  address  the  bishop  having  charge  of 
Foreign  Missions.  If  he  have  special  reasons  for  it,  his  com¬ 
munications  can  be  made  to  the  bishop  through  the  Corre¬ 
sponding  secretary. 


DRAFTS. 

Every  superintendent  of  a  mission,  and  every  missionary 
is  prohibited  from  drawing  any  draft  without  proper  author¬ 
ity  given  him,  or  from  drawing  for  a  greater  amount  than  is 
properly  authorized;  and  notice  of  each  draft  should  be  given 
always  in  advance. 


MISSIONARY  MANUAL. 


19 


GENERAL  INSTRUCTIONS  TO 
MISSIONARIES.* 


Dear  Brother  :  Your  appointment  as  a  missionary  indicates 
the  confidence  which  the  appointing  power  has  in  your  wisdom 
and  integrity,  as  well  as  the  great  necessity  of  a  faithful  ap¬ 
plication  of  yourself  to  all  those  duties  which  grow  out  of 
your  relation  to  the  church  and  to  the  ’world.  To  some  of 
these  duties  permit  me  to  call  your  attention. 

I.  As  a  Methodist  it  is  expected  that  you  will  attend 

to  all  those  duties,  so  far  as  they  are  applicable  to  the  state  of 
your  mission,  which  are  prescribed  in  our  Discipline  for  those 
who  have  the  charge  of  circuits.  On  this  head,  therefore,  it 
is  only  necessary  to  refer  you  to  those  sections  of  the  Dis¬ 
cipline  which  treat  of  the  duties  of  a  Methodist  preacher  to 
God,  to  his  brethren,  and  to  those  who  are  more  immediately 
committed  to  his  charge. 

II.  As  a  Methodist  missionary,  it  is  expected  that  you  will 
faithfully  attend  to  the  following  directions  : — 

1.  It  is  made  your  duty  to  form  your  circuit,  unless  you 
labor  among  the  slaves,  into  an  auxiliary  missionary  society, 
and  to  make  regular  class  and  quarterly  collections,  and  to 
transmit  the  amount  so  raised  to  the  treasurer  of  the  Parent 
Society,  either  by  indorsing  it  on  your  draft,  or  by  sending 
the  money.  The  reason  of  this  requirement  is  founded  on 
the  very  obvious  principle,  that  it  is  the  duty  of  all  men  to 
help  themselves  according  to  their  several  ability,  and  to  con¬ 
tribute  their  quota  toward  defraying  the  expenses  attendant 
upon  the  worship  of  God,  building  houses,  supporting  minis¬ 
ters,  &c.  And  this  plain  Scriptural  duty  should  be  inculcated 

*  The  general  and  special  instructions  which  follow,  were  published, 
some  years  since,  by  order  of  the  Board. 


20 


MISSIONARY  MANUAL. 


upon  all  who  hear  the  Gospel,  that  they  may  he  early  trained  to 
its  performance,  that  thereby  the  Missionary  Society  may  be 
aided  in  its  benevolent  efforts  to  diffuse  abroad  the  Gospel  of 
the  grace  of  God.  It  is  hence  expected  that  you  will  punctu¬ 
ally  attend  to  this  part  of  your  duty  in  all  cases  where  it  is 
practicable,  let  the  amount  collected  be  ever  so  small. 

2.  Another  duty  enjoined  upon  all  our  missionaries  is  to 
send  regular  quarterly  reports  to  the  Corresponding  Secretary. 
By  referring  to  the  Constitution  of  the  Society,  you  will  per¬ 
ceive  that  the  spirit  of  this  rule  is  complied  with  when  the 
superintendent  of  a  missionary  district,  which  may  include  a 
number  of  circuits  or  stations,  sends  his  report  of  the  whole 
work,  and  therefore,  in  such  cases,  it  is  not  necessary  for  each 
missionary  to  send  a  separate  report.  By  attending  to  this 
requirement  in  this  way,  much  time  and  expense  may  be  saved. 
In  general,  these  reports  should  be  short,  embracing  the  prin¬ 
cipal  facts  ;  or,  if  lengthened  out,  be  filled  with  those  incidents 
or  historical  details  which  alone  can  make  them  interesting 
and  profitable.  If  you  are  on  ^foreign  station,  or  among  the 
aborigines  of  our  country,  those  facts  respecting  the  peculiar 
customs,  language,  and  habits  of  the  people — their  laws  and 
government — their  individual  conversions  and  progress  in 
Christianity,  will  always  render  your  reports  entertaining  and 
instructive.  But  mere  common-place  observations  on  topics 
which  come  under  the  eye  of  every  one  in  any  place,  or  specu¬ 
lations  on  abstract  truths,  unless  needful  to  illustrate  the 
grace  of  God  in  Christ  Jesus,  are  dull  and  monotonous  to  the 
reader,  and  convey  not  the  information  which  is  expected 
from  the  report  of  a  missionary. 

You  will  also  recollect  that  these  reports,  if  published,  as  it 
is  desirable  they  should  be,  will  return  to  the  people  about 
whom  you  speak:  and  hence  the  necessity  of  saying  nothing 
that  will  give  just  cause  of  offence,  or  which  you  would  not 
be  willing  to  express  to  their  face.  Much  injury  has  been 
done  to  the  cause  of  missions,  in  some  instances,  by  exagge¬ 
rated  accounts  of  the  wickedness  and  miseries  of  the  people, 
made  apparently  with  a  view  to  awaken  sympathy,  and  to  en¬ 
list  the  benevolence  of  the  community  in  their  behalf.  These 
errors  should  be  scrupulously  avoided,  lest  “  your  good  be  evil 
spoken  of.^^ 

In  the  report  which  you  may  transmit  toward  the  close  of 
the  missionary  year,  that  is,  the  one  which  will  reach  the 
Secretary  by  thej^r^^  of  April  in  each  year,  you  are  requested 
not  to  forget  the  follovv^ing  items  of  information:  1.  The  num- 


MISSIONARY  MANUAL. 


21 


ber  of  church  members,  distinguishing  between  the  Indian, 
white,  and  colored  members.  2.  Number  of  missionaries 
employed,  whites  and  natives.  3.  Of  schools,  teachers,  and 
scholars.  These  items  of  information  are  essential  to  make 
out  an.  accurate  statement  of  the  condition  of  the  several 
missions  for  the  Annual  Report.  And  facts  of  this  character 
are  worth  a  hundred  general  remarks,  and  for  the  want  of 
which  our  Annual  Reports  are  often  very  imperfect  and  un¬ 
satisfactory. 

III.  The  mere  fact  of  your  being  a  missionary  throws  you 
into  the  midst  of  a  people  of  strange  habits,  of  different 
modes  of  thinking,  and  who,  in  many  instances,  are  of  vari¬ 
ous  sects  of  religion.  These  circumstances  necessarily  render 
your  task  difficult ;  and  make  it  needful  to  use  great  caution 
and  prudence,  lest  you  excite  such  a  prejudice  against  you  as 
to  obstruct  your  usefulness  and  prevent  your  success.  All 
these  habits  and  prejudices,  not  in  themselves  sinful,  should 
be  respected,  or,  at  least,  so  far  tolerated  as  not  to  make  them 
matters  of  conscience  and  controversy.  Surrounded  as  you 
are  by  these  circumstances,  while  you  strenuously  maintain 
“  the  truth  as  it  is  in  Jesus,^^  and  “  contend  earnestly  for  the 
faith  once  delivered  to  the  saints,^^  it  is  highly  important  that 
you  should  cultivate  with  other  Christian  denominations,  with 
whom  you  may  come  in  contact,  a  spirit  of  Christian  love  and 
union,  and  thus  endeavor  to  strengthen  each  other’s  hands  in 
the  great  work  in  which  you  are  mutually  engaged.  While 
contending  against  the  superstitions  of  paganism  in  its  vari¬ 
ous  forms,  and  condemning  those  vices  which  corrupt  the  soul, 
it  should  be  made  manifest,  by  the  manner  in  which  you  do 
these  things,  that  you  are  actuated  solely  by  a  love  to  perish¬ 
ing  souls,  and  by  an  ardent  thirst  for  their  salvation.  Thus 
shielded  by  the  purity  of  your  motives,  and  the  exemplariness 
of  your  conduct,  you  will  be  able  to  pass  through  the  fire  of 
opposition  unhurt ;  and  should  you  even  fail  in  the  accom¬ 
plishment  of  your  object,  you  will  have  the  consoling  satisfac¬ 
tion  of  having  done  all  lihings  for  the  glory  of  God  in  Christ 
Jesus,  and  the  salvation  of  the  souls  committed  to  your  trust. 

IV.  It  need  hardly  be  added,  that  your  success  in  your 
mission  mainly  depends  upon  the  uprightness  of  your  con¬ 
duct  among  the  people.  The  pious  and  holy  deportment  of  a 
missionary  is  a  living  comment  upon  the  doctrine  he  preaches, 
and  a  lively  exhibition  of  those  Christian  virtues  which  he 


22 


MISSIONARY  MANUAL. 


recommends.  Everything,  therefore,  which  would  cause  your 
motives  to  he  suspected,  and  render  you  in  any  way  an  object 
of  contempt  by  the  sober  and  thinking  part  of  the  community, 
should  be  scrupulously  avoided.  So  to  behave  on  all  occasions 
as  to  let  “  no  man  despise  you,^^  on  account  of  inconsistencies 
of  conduct,  frivolity  of  speech  or  manners,  or  of  loving  “this 
present  world^^  more  than  the  cause  of  God,  is  essential  to 
enable  you  to  gain  the  confidence  and  afiection  of  the  people 
to  whom  you  are  sent,  and  without  which  all  your  labor  will 
be  in  vain. 

But  much  more  especially  is  your  “sufficiency  of  God.^^ 
Not  by  human  might,  wisdom,  or  prudence,,  but  by  God’s 
Spirit,  must  we  look  for  success  in  the  great  work  of  “  convert¬ 
ing  sinners  from  the  error  of  their  ways.^^  To  maintain,  there¬ 
fore,  constant  communion  with  Him  from  whom  cometh  every 
good  and  perfect  gift,  by  the  constant  exercise  of  prayer  and 
faith,  and  a  life  of  self-denial,  is  above  all  other  things  most 
essential  for  a  successful  issue  of  your  labors.  To  his  grace, 
then,  you  are  recommended,  in  the  hope  that  he  will  guide 
and  sanctify  all  your  words  and  actions,  and  make  you  instru¬ 
mental  in  enlarging  the  kingdom  of  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ  in 
the  world. 


MISSIONARY  MANUAL, 


23 


SPECIAL  INSTRUCTIONS  TO  FOREIGN 
MISSIONARIES. 


Dear  Brother:  You  are  hereby  instructed  by  the  Board  of 
Managers  of  the  Missionary  Society  of  the  Methodist  Episco¬ 
pal  Church 

I.  To  give  your  entire  attention  to  the  great  business  in 
which  you  have  engaged,  and  to  undertake  no  business  or  en¬ 
terprise  which  will  in  the  least  interfere  with  your  appropri¬ 
ate  work;  and  you  are  also  to  see  that  the  missionaries, 
teachers,  and  all  others  under  your  supervision,  shall  do  the 
same. 

II.  You  are  to  report  directly  to  the  Board,  through  the  Cor¬ 
responding  Secretary,  all  matters  which  relate  to  the  state  of 
the  mission,  and  to  consider  no  instructions  as  legitimate 
which  do  not  come  from  the  official  organ  of  the  Board. 

III.  You  are  to  make  a  detailed  report  at  least  once  in  each 
year,  and  oftener  if  practicable,  embracing  the  following  par¬ 
ticulars,  with  any  other  matters  of  which  you  may  judge  it 
important  that  the  Board  should  be  advised,  namely  : — 

As  to  the  persons  employed  in  the  mission — missionaries, 
teachers,  physicians,  artisans,  &c.  &c. ;  and  in  relation  to  each 
of  these,  whether  they  have  families,  and  if  so,  of  what  num¬ 
ber,  what  labor  they  perform,  and  what  salary  they  receive. 
Also  how  many  pupils  in  the  schools,  and  what  number  of 
each  sex. 

As  to  the  fiscal  state  of  the  mission — ^what  amounts  have 
been  received  from  the  Board,  distinguishing  between  cash 
and  merchandise.  What  amounts  from  the  mission,  distin¬ 
guishing  between  contributions,  produce,  meat,  or  receipts  for 
services  rendered  by  the  mission  physician  or  artisans  to  those 
who  are  not  connected  with  the  mission. 


24 


MISSIONARY  MANUAL. 


As  to  the  estimated  value  of  the  mission  property,  distin¬ 
guishing  between  real  estate,  stock,  goods  in  store,  produce, 
furniture,  farming  utensils,  mechanics^  tools,  &c.  &c. 

IV.  The  superintendents  of  our  Foreign  Missions  are  hereby 
directed  to  keep  a  diary  of  all  their  proceedings,  as  well  as 
of  the  operations  of  the  missions  generally ;  and  to  require 
all  the  missionaries  under  their  supervision,  as  far  as  it  may 
be  practicable,  to  do  the  same.  These  diaries  should  contain 
not  only  the  operations  of  the  ministers,  but  of  the  secular 
members  of  the  mission.  And  it  will  be  expected  that  these 
diaries  will  be  transmitted  to  the  Corresponding  Secretary  by 
every  opportunity,  up  to  the  time  such  opportunities  may 
occur. 

V.  You  are  particularly  instructed  on  no  account  to  exceed 
in  your  expenditures  the  amount  appropriated  for  the  support 
of  the  mission,  which  amount  will  be  annually  communicated 
by  the  Corresponding  Secretary. 


Wido 


Various  Missionary  Laborers 
Qualifications  of  Missionaries 
By  whom  Appointed 
Testimonials  .  .  . 

Appropriations  for  Support  . 
Superannuated  Missionaries,  their 
Expenses  .  .  .  .  ' 

Marriage  .  . 

Outfit  .  .  .  .  . 

Furniture  .  . 

Boxes  or  casks  s  . 

Passport 

Your  Address  .  .  . 

Departure  for  the  Field  . 

The  Voyage  .  .  . 

Conduct  in  your  Mission 
Your  Correspondence  . 

Subjects  for  Correspondence  . 

Your  Journal 
Official  Communications 
Drafts  .  . 

General  Instructions  to  Missionaries 
Special  Instructions  to  Foreign  Missionaries 
Presiding  Elders  .  ... 


3 

4 

-  ■■  ■■■■  -j'A 

5 

6 


■■ 


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ws  and  Orphans  9  s 


9 


.  10 
.  10 
.  11 
.  11 
.  12 
.  12 
.  13 

.  14 

.  ,  16 
.  17 

.  18 
.  18 
.  18 
.  19 

.  23 

4—12, 16 


